Electrical Preconstruction Cost Estimator

Job Description

Job Description

Imagine your day

You start by opening the latest bid package, scanning drawings across all trades, and mapping the scope. You build a complete, accurate electrical estimate—materials, labor units, equipment, and subcontractor quotes—then apply the right markups to support company profitability. A supplier calls with updated pricing; you capture it in ConEst IntelliBid and confirm competitive numbers. After lunch, you join a customer meeting to clarify assumptions, then coach a newer estimator on takeoff technique and proposal language. Before the deadline, your estimate is submitted cleanly, clearly, and on time.

Role focus

This position exists to produce precise, comprehensive estimates for commercial and industrial electrical projects, strengthen relationships with customers, contractors, and vendors, and elevate team capability through collaboration and mentoring.

Authority and reporting

• Authorized to take reasonable actions required to fulfill assigned responsibilities, consistent with corporate policy and sound business judgment.
• Reports to the COO; no direct reports.

What you will do

• Partner with Sales to prepare bids, estimates, and quotes.
• Maintain and continuously update product and pricing databases within ConEst IntelliBid.
• Solicit and evaluate competitive vendor and subcontractor pricing.
• Participate in customer calls/meetings to support the proposal process.
• Communicate clearly with customers, contractors, suppliers, and internal teams.
• Support Production by answering scope, material, and labor-assumption questions.
• Deliver materials lists and labor breakdowns for awarded projects.
• Assist Accounting with purchase orders and cost-related questions as needed.
• Stay current on codes, standards, material changes, and industry trends.
• Help uphold company policies, procedures, and safety practices.
• Mentor and help train new estimators to ensure consistent estimating practices.
• Review all bid specifications, drawings, and related documents thoroughly.
• Prepare detailed takeoffs, labor units, material pricing, subcontractor quotes, and equipment costs with accuracy.
• Submit complete, error-checked estimates by the required deadlines.
• Assemble material lists and coordinate needs for awarded work.
• Support project handoff to production with accurate, well-documented information.
• Issue revisions or add alternates per bid documents or customer requests.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the COO.

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s in Construction Management, Electrical Technology, Engineering, or related field preferred.

Experience

• Three to five years as a journey-level electrician preferred.
• Proficient with Windows and Microsoft Office, especially Excel.
• Skilled at reading and interpreting construction blueprints (all trades), specifications, contracts, and related documents.
• Minimum two years using a recognized electrical estimating platform (e.g., Trimble Accubid, McCormick) and ability to learn/transition to ConEst IntelliBid.
• Background preparing detailed material takeoffs and labor estimates for commercial/industrial electrical projects.

Skills and strengths

• Up-to-date knowledge of electrical materials, equipment, installation methods, and market trends.
• Strong analytical ability to assess drawings, specs, RFIs, addenda, and technical reports.
• Clear written communication for proposals, bid clarifications, and business correspondence.
• Problem-solving aptitude amid limited standardization across projects.
• Fluency with electrical estimating software, Microsoft Office, PDF markup tools (e.g., Bluebeam), and databases.
• Understanding of job costing, markup strategies, profit analysis, and basic accounting.
• High numeracy and accuracy in calculations and verifications.
• Effective verbal and written communication with external partners and internal teams.
• Calm, professional, solution-oriented approach with customers, contractors, and field personnel.
• Organized, deadline-driven, able to manage multiple simultaneous bids.
• Comfortable working independently and within a collaborative estimating team.

Measures of success

• Material quantities estimated are within 5% of actual usage.
• Estimates are accurate, complete, and submitted on schedule.
• Positive feedback on communication, professionalism, and teamwork.

Physical requirements

This role regularly involves prolonged sitting. You will need full range of motion, including hand use for computers and peripherals, plus bending, reaching, and crouching. All five senses are required; vision must support close focus, depth perception, and rapid adjustment from screens to documents. Ability to lift 25 pounds on a regular basis is required.

Working conditions

Work is primarily in a climate-controlled, non-smoking office with occasional travel for work functions. Normal auto and air travel hazards apply. Travel may occur in heavy rain or below-freezing, snowy conditions. Typical days run 8–10 hours and may include some early mornings and late evenings.